Photo by Co Merz
Subtle Connections Across The World
February 28, 2026
Leonkoro Quartet
The Leonkoro Quartet, based in Berlin, arrived in the U.S. this month after a rousing London performance. The Guardian review gave high praise: “vivid, intoxicating play from gleaming future stars.”
The quartet’s numerous top competition prizes since 2022 have catapulted them to an elevated status in chamber music.
Leonkoro in Esperanto means “lionheart.” It refers to Astrid Lindgren’s children’s book with themes of tyranny, rebellion, and betrayal contrasting with loyalty, hope, and courage — sentiments conveyed in much of Leonkoro Quartet’s repertoire.
The audience will get a preview of their recently released second album, Out of Vienna, with performances from composers Erwin Schulhoff and Anton Webern. More high praise from the Guardian with words like “blazing exploration,” “intense,” “intricate” and “fierce.”
Don’t miss these stellar musicians in an outstanding performance.
Program includes:
Henriëtte Bosmans – String Quartet (1927)
Erwin Schulhoff – Five Pieces for String Quartet
Anton Webern – Langsamer Satz
Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13
*Artists or program may be subject to change.
2:00 p.m. at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Photo by Co Merz
The Artists
Violin
Jonathan Schwarz
Born in Lübeck, Germany, Jonathan Schwarz received his first violin lesson as a boy and at 14, began studying at the Musikhochschule Lübeck. He had an early passion for playing in the orchestra and served as concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany, which led to involvements in CD productions and radio recordings for the Deutsche Grammophon and German broadcasters. He received additional orchestra experience in the festival orchestras of the Pacific Music Festival, the Kammerakademie Potsdam and the Karajan Academy with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Photo by Felix Broede
Violin
Emiri Kakiuchi
Emiri Kakiuchi, born in 2006, studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and now continues her musical education at the Berlin University of the Arts.
She has appeared regularly on international stages as both a soloist and chamber musician. In 2023, she became the youngest participant to win second prize and three special awards at the 42nd Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition, followed by a recital tour in Italy.
She has also received second prize at the Grumiaux International Violin Competition, was a finalist at the Louis Spohr Competition, and won fourth prize at the 93rd Japan Music Competition. Further distinctions include first prize and the audience prize at the Munetsugu String Quartet Competition, as well as first prize at the Alice Samter Foundation Chamber Music Competition with her Varyon string quartet.
She is a 2025 scholarship recipient of the Yamaha Music Support Program and performs on a 1725 Santo Serafin violin.
Photo by Co Merz
Viola
Mayu Konoe
The Japanese-Dutch violist was born in Amsterdam and received her initial training at the Sweelinck Academy of the Amsterdam Conservatory. At the age of 9, she performed with her Quartetto Piccolo at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and also formed a duo with her twin brother Takehiro Konoe. She began her studies in 2016 at the Berlin University of the Arts. She has studied viola since 2022 at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music. She was a member of the Ensemble Esperanza and gained additional orchestral experience as a substitute at the Kammerakademie Potsdam and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Photo by Felix Broede
Cello
Lukas Schwarz
Cellist Lukas Schwarz became a junior student at the Lübeck University of Music and Performing Arts at the age of 10. He began his bachelor’s degree in 2016 at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig, which he completed in spring 2021with top marks. He finished his master’s degree in spring 2023, also with top marks, and has attended many masterclasses. As principal cellist of the German Federal Youth Orchestra, he toured Europe and Asia and participated in CD productions and radio recordings for German broadcasters. He continued gaining further orchestral experience with the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra, Eroica Berlin Chamber Orchestra, Orchester im Treppenhaus and the young North German Philharmonic.
Photo by Felix Broede
